Oklahoma employers, beware: Fraudulent unemployment claims on the rise

Unemployment filings in Oklahoma, and elsewhere, are at an all-time high because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) recently stated it has paid more than $432 million in unemployment claims in the past six weeks alone. That’s more than was paid in all of 2019. And with that uptick comes an increase in fraudulent claims as well.

Recent rules changes

Not only has the number of unemployment claims increased, but some of the rules have recently changed, too. For instance, Governor Kevin Stitt suspended the one-week waiting period for employees to receive unemployment benefits and temporarily waived the work search requirements for benefit recipients.

Benefit wage charges to employers also will be waived for claims directly related to COVID-19. In other words, unemployment taxes won't be charged to employers for those claims. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act also increased the amount unemployed individuals can receive, the length of time benefits are available, and who is eligible.

Fraud is up, too

That’s all good news for people suffering from the pandemic's economic impact. But with so many individuals relying on the expanded benefits, it has unfortunately caused an increase in fraud. You should be on the watch for fraudulent claims, especially during a time when you may not be monitoring unemployment notices as closely as you normally would.